Midwives
by Chris Bohjalian
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NATIONAL BESTSELLER - This modern classic from the author of The Flight Attendant is a compulsively readable novel that explores questions of human responsibility that are as fundamental to our society now as they were when the book was first published. A selection of Oprah's original Book Club that has sold more than two million copies.
On an icy winter night in an isolated house in rural Vermont, a seasoned midwife named Sibyl Danforth takes desperate measures to save a baby's life. She performs an emergency cesarean section on a mother she believes has died of stroke. But what if--as Sibyl's assistant later charges--the patient wasn't already dead? The ensuing trial bears the earmarks of a witch hunt, forcing Sibyl to face the antagonism of the law, the hostility of traditional doctors, and the accusations of her own conscience. Exploring the complex and emotional decisions surrounding childbirth, Midwives engages, moves, and transfixes us as only the very best novels ever do.
Look for Chris Bohjalian's new novel, The Lioness!
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9780375706776
- Binding
- Paperback
- Authors
- Chris Bohjalian
- Publisher
- Vintage
- Published Date
- November 8, 1998
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 384
- Physical Info
- 8.01 in L x 5.22 in W (0.7 lb)
I am one of those readers who found the beginning of this book NOTHING BUT WORK. There is little character development (or at least it was not very well done in my opinion) in Midwives' first 1/4 of the book. The daughter's relationship with school mates, first crushes and boyfriends are not only uninteresting, but make it hard to get through to the areas that are worth reading. The incident itself, is riveting, I will admit. But drops back to just plain midiocre for the remainder of the novel. I am not a believer in home births for myself personally. If I am going to be in that much pain, and POSSIBLE danger for myself, and an unborn child, I want degrees, medicine, epidurals, operating rooms and forceps near by JUST IN CASE. This book did NOTHING to change my opinion of that, if anything it just made it seem all that much more foolish. Finally due to the lack of character development, I felt no connection or loyalty to Sibyl (the midwife) and found myself rooting for the prosecution. I doubt that is what the author had in mind.
Midwives is an engaging, solid read. It's court room, suspense novel, told in an interesting, and realistic way. One of the problems I have with a lot of legal thrillers is that they are completely unrealistic, but this one is completely believable, well-written. Bohjalian has you wondering right up until the end as to what the verdict is going to be--was she guilty of murder, of anything? The story of Sybil, a midwife accused of murder when a homebirth goes horribly, horribly wrong is told from the vantage point of her daughter who was a young girl at the time, but is now a practicing Obstetrician. This is the sort of novel that's best if you can just zip right through it--perfect reading for a vacation, or a weekend away. The characters are interesting and believable and certain things happen at the end that will surprise you. It's definitely one of the better Oprah picks.
The book started out really slow, but around 50% of the way in it picked up. I really struggled to get into this book, and I wish it had focused more on the trial and less about Connie’s love interest, and friends
Book is good quality and it was received quickly.
Well written. Well thought out.
